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Target Beauty Box “Best of Dermstore” Review – Holiday 2018

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeNov 14, 2018 | 109 comments

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 box

Every month, Target launches a beauty box, and it usually sells out very quickly. If you want to make sure you don’t miss out on the next Target Beauty Box, make sure to sign up for the My Subscription Addiction daily newsletter!

FYI - This Best of Dermstore Holiday Kit is currently sold out at Target but it is available at BeautyFIX!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 all items

Target has been releasing several new Holiday Beauty Boxes.!

This is a review of the Best of Dermstore Kit, which contains the best, top-rated products from prestige skincare brands.

Treat yourself (or special someone) to some of Dermstore’s best-selling beauty products from prestige brands. A comprehensive set with eight unique pieces, these top-rated formulas are powered by potent ingredients that brighten, firm and renew your skin, just to name a few. Whether you’re a skin care enthusiast or novice, this essential kit is sure to make the grade.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 all items 2

About This Box

The Box: Target Beauty Box – Holiday – Dermstore Skin Care Collection

The Cost: $24.99

The Products:

  • 0.5 fl oz Sunday Riley GOOD GENES All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
  • 0.07oz SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair
  • 0.5oz Lancer Skincare The Method: Polish
  • 15g Tula Skincare Hydrating Day & Night Cream
  • 1 fl oz DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
  • 1 set Erna Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask
  • 100ml Bioderma Sensibio H2O
  • 10ml Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 (PA+++)

Our Review

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 info sheet

This kit includes a fold-out info sheet about the products inside.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 item descriptions

I love that the kit includes descriptions of each product, as well as the tip: "Cleanser, Moisturizer, SPF: consider these your must-have trio - whether you're 15 or 75." When I read this, I did all the praise hands, because that's exactly what I say. Just like the kit's outer packaging wrap says, beauty starts with healthy skin! You need a healthy canvas for your makeup, or not even the best foundation will look like it should. Also, anti-aging products are great, but you can actually use them before you see signs of aging to prolong their appearance instead of just trying to reverse them. In my time working at Sephora, I learned a lot and became very passionate about skincare!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 product ingredients

The back of the info sheet includes the ingredient list for each item. Now, onto the items!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 bag

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 bag close

Dermstore Clear Cosmetic Bag

I know this bag is just the packaging, but it's actually a fantastic bag! I'm so glad they sold this set in this bag instead of just a box. It measures approximately 10" wide x 5" tall, and 3.5 inches deep, so it's a nice size. It has a rose gold zipper and every side of it is clear so you can easily see everything inside. I love that it opens the way it does so I can sift through my products easily instead of digging. My only complaint is that my zipper tends to catch at one or two points of the bag, but it's really a minor issue I may be able to fix, and I still love it.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 Sunday Riley Good Genes

Sunday Riley GOOD GENES Lactic Acid Treatment, .5 fl oz - Estimated Value $52.50 (Buy a 1 oz full-size for $105 or 1.7 oz for $158)

I don't think I could start this review off with anything other than this cult-favorite product, which I'm sure was the first thing to catch many people's eye in this kit! Good Genes has a lot of hype, and honestly, I think it totally lives up to it. This is many women's holy grail skincare product. It's one of the best chemical exfoliants on the market. It is gentle enough for all skin types, and my experience has found it to be very effective and quickly show a change in the appearance of my skin (smoother, brighter, more even, etc). I also really appreciate that the packaging of this .5 oz sample is glass, just like the full-size! It's really luxurious packaging that I was surprised to find in a $24.99 kit at Target. And that value: this product alone is worth twice the price of the whole kit!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 Bioderma Micellar

Bioderma Sensibio H2O, 3.33 fl oz - Retail Value $6.90

I haven't tried a lot of micellar waters, but I like this one. It's very gentle and removed all my makeup without any scrubbing. It took off most of my makeup in a swipe or two, and my mascara came off with just a moment or two of letting this soak on my lashes by holding the cotton pad still before wiping.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 eye masks

Erno Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask - Estimated Value $5.83 (Buy a 6-count pack for $35, and there's also a holiday 12-count box for $48)

These eye masks are a fantastic new discovery for me! I've tried eye masks before, but I think these are my favorite. They're a clear, super floppy gel that you just place under your eye. They are so flexible and comfortable that I could have forgotten I even had them on. The serum formula is so refreshing and slightly cooling. I definitely noticed that my skin was more hydrated, smoother, and less puffy after using these -  I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase more!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 Tula Cream

Tula Skincare Hydrating Day & Night Cream, 15g - Estimated Value $16.22 (Buy a 1.7 fl oz full-size for $52)

This brand is new to me, so I was excited to try it. This day & night cream's active ingredients are probiotics and retinol (so be sure to wear under SPF if you're using it in the day). It is a thicker cream, so I can see how some may feel that it's a little heavy, but it melts as you massage it in and actually absorbed really well after a few minutes. My skin feels very well hydrated with no residue or film left on my skin at all.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 Lancer Skin Polish

Lancer Skincare the Method: Polish, .5 oz - Estimated Value $8.93 (Buy 4.2 oz for $75)

Holy cow, this skin polish is effective! It's super gritty - this product needs no help from you to do its job, so make sure not to press too hard as you work this product on your face. I don't have sensitive skin and had I scrubbed as hard as I may tend to with other exfoliators my face would have been uncomfortable. To be honest, I sort of like that about this polish because I'm the type of person who likes to feel that a product is working, and a little can go a long way with this, too. My skin feels unbelievably smooth after using this scrub! They also apparently make variations of this polish for different skin types: normal/combination, oily/congested, sensitive/dehydrated, and body.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 Colorscience SPF

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 (PA+++), .34 fl oz - Estimated Value $7.37 (Buy 1.8 oz for $39)

Give me all the SPF! This face shield is slightly tinted, but it blends out well and isn't noticeable and is so much better than the white cast other sunscreens can leave. It makes a great primer and didn't leave my skin feeling greasy at all. It's also waterproof, hypoallergenic, mineral-based (zinc oxide), fragrance-free, and contains antioxidants.

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 skinmedica eye cream

SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair, .07 oz - Estimated Value $14.28 (Buy a .5 oz full-size for $102)

This is definitely one of the most expensive eye creams I've tried. It contains hyaluronic acid, vitamins A, C, and E, peptides, and SkinMedica's TNS complex, and is designed to brighten, repair, nourish, and protect delicate skin under the eye. The formula feels luxurious and hydrating and I love it. A little goes a long way, and I'll be savoring every use of this sample!

Target Beauty Box Best of Dermstore Holiday 2018 DHC Cleansing oil

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, 1 fl oz - Retail Value $5.50

This oil cleanser felt luxurious on my skin and left it feeling really clean and nourished with no tightness or stripped feeling. This is sold at retail in this 1 oz bottle, but the packaging is my one complaint: the plastic bottle is sturdy and hard to squeeze drops out. If you plan to buy this, I'd recommend buying one of the larger sizes that come with a pump for dispensing the oil (it's also available in a 2.3 fl oz bottle and a 6.7 fl oz bottle).

The Verdict: Honestly, I'm very impressed with this Best of Dermstore Target Beauty Box! I feel like I raved about each product, but I really do love everything I tried in here. Every brand was new to me except for Sunday Riley, and each one felt premium and high-quality. This kit would have still been super worth it at a higher price point. The total estimated value adds up to $117.56 which blows me away for $24.99! And that's not including any value for the bag it came in that I'll definitely use, too.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? This kit sold out on Target's website extremely fast, and it also sold out from Dermstore's website shortly after. But I would keep an eye out on both of those for restock notifications or your local store availability.

I snagged my kit because I called my local Target (which showed "limited stock available" on Target's site), asked if they had any, and had them hold one for me. After trying all the items after picking it up, I called again to ask if they had any more and they said they had sold out too! I'm kicking myself for not seeing if there were more to buy from the start. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for restocks myself!

Value Breakdown: The total estimated value for the products in this kit adds up to $117.56, and that's not counting for any value from the clear cosmetic bag which was the packaging. At $24.99 for this kit, here's approximately what you're paying for each item:

  • Sunday Riley Good Genes: $11.16
  • Bioderma micellar water: $1.47
  • Erno Laszlo eye mask: $1.24
  • Tula cream: $3.45
  • Lancer skin polish: $1.90
  • Colorscience SPF: $1.57
  • SkinMedica eye cream: $3.04
  • DHC cleansing oil: $1.17
  • Cosmetic bag: n/a

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What do you think of the Target Beauty Box "Best of Dermstore" holiday set?

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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109 comments

Kathy S

After at least 9 times of receiving an email that this item was back in stock at Target and missing it each time even had it in my cart once but wouldn’t let me check out, I visited our local Target which said it had limited stock on the website. To my surprise there were 8 on the shelf along with several advent calendars and several of the other holiday kits. The dry shampoo kit stated it wasn’t available in stores in my area, but only available online. There were 8 of those on the shelf also.

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Ela Avar

I just read every comment on this post, and I have to say y’all are an awesome bunch of people!!! Every one who responded to someone else’s comment did so with helpful information and a friendly manner. YAY Y’ALL!!!

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Ela Avar

WOOT!!! My Target in Louisville Kentucky got restocked and I was able to get one!!! I was also able to use my $3.00 coupon from the regular November beauty box! HAPPY DANCE!!!

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Flipflop

It is definitely worth it to check the stock of your local stores online. Yesterday, I found a Target store close by that still had plenty in stock. I quickly placed an order for in-store pick up and even was able to use my $3.00 off coupon from my Nov Beauty Box, and now I have it 😊(for $21.99!)

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Mary

FYI as of 11/21 at 5:50 a.m. ET, 9 are left on Target website.

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pb

was just coming to post to keep checking the target website or use back in stock app – had in cart and there were 2, one sold as I was checking out so bought 1 + in transit already!! yeah!!

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Rebecca

1 left as of 7:30AM Eastern!

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Rebecca

And now it says 7 left. I wonder if they are restocking or if people are putting it in the cart, then removing it or walking away.

Rebecca

Just dropping back in to say, it’s still worth checking your stores! My sister bought two (one for her, one for me) at our local Target yesterday. Their website said “limited stock”, so I called and was told they were sold out. My sister happened to be going there, didn’t see it, and asked someone, who found that they had two left in the back. (I finally get to try Good Genes!!!)

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Rebecca

I’m going to be near a Target this morning that supposedly has it in stock. Where in the beauty department has it shown up in your Target? I won’t have a lot of time to search. Thank you!

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Reese

Like another commentor said, I had to ask directly because they didnt have a spot for it yet and it was in back. I would assume an end cap because that’s how all the holiday bundles were displayed. If not, find someone promptly and just ask.

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Rebecca

Thanks– I didn’t get to go look, then they sold out, but another store that had “limited stock” told me they were sold out when I called yesterday. My sister did what you suggested and got the last two 😀

Cary San

I just bought two right now online at 10:20pm said 6 were available. Can only buy 2 at once. So glad I got it. Still haven’t tried in store, scared to drive for no reason. I did not receive an in stock email alert tho 😧 I would just check randomly on there website maybe every other day and finally got lucky 🍀

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Natalie

Here’s hoping for a restock before the year’s over, at least. Just didn’t have the money to spare when this came out (then, of course, after it’s completely sold out, I do). So disappointing, but looks great for those that got it.

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Becky

I had a pretty severe case of FOMO about this so I bought it from Target’s website a couple days ago but now it’s showing a “delivery issue” with USPS. I fear it’ll be lost forever so I checked and it showed in stock at my local Target! When I got there, I noticed there were none out and not even a space for them on the display. I was bummed but I asked a nice worker who told me that they are keeping them all in the back and they had the whole box they received back there! Tricky little Target!

So long story short – just talk to your local Target and ask them to check in the back. Hopefully you’ll find one. 🙂

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Christyle

If you bought this bag with Dermstore, it was on their site for $20…. I was charged 24.99 plus tax, I had to call their customer service … at first they told me it was $24.99… and I had to let them know it was very clearly that price if ordered through target, but not Dermstore… so they apologized, and added 1000 Dermstore points to my account, which is essentially $10 towards my next purchase. I was good with that … $5 mistake turned into a $10 credit. To me that equals I got this amazing bag for $15. Just wanted to let anyone who purchased know to look at your statement and call if not correct👍

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LB

I bought one from Dermstore the first day it was posted on MSA and it was clearly marked as $24.99 when I bought it. If they had it marked wrong before that, it was eventually corrected…

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Juliee

I just bought one at my local Target! So happy! I’m excited to try all of these products and I even love the bag!

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Aaron

So sad! Dermstore let me place an order yesterday and today I received a message that they are sorry it’s out of stock….I wanted this so bad!

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Barbara

Lately I haven’ been buying the Target boxes, but THIS ONE is different. I wish I had the forethought to get 2 of them…what a deal! I love me some Sunday Riley and this years boxes (between Allure and Target) have kept me stocked.

I will try to keep my eyes open around the holidays to see if they do restock them. Great gifts too. 😍

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Emily

Got mine at Target yesterday! My store said “limited availability” so I went in. None on the floor, but had them look in back and sure enough, they had one.

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Carrie

I am 24 years old with fairly good skin… just a little bit of dullness and larger pores but nothing crazy! My skin can tolerate really strong peels and products. Do you think using Good Genes is unnecessary at my age?

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Haley Faye

Carrie – Nope, you can still totally benefit! Maybe don’t use it every day. Couple times a week, maybe? I’m 26 and have pretty good skin, too, maybe similar to yours, and use it maybe every other day to a couple times a week and find it helps. 🙂 Also, it’s very gentle so even though your skin can tolerate strong peels and products, Good Genes isn’t going to feel like those do.

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Jennie

I got mine in the mail today from Dermstore. Really kicking myself for not getting two, but I needed a budget for the Sephora last weekend. Heres to hoping they restock, or that Target puts them on the floor at some point. (already wasted time going to target after the site says “limited availability” . My post worker tossed the box over the fence and the packaging the products are encased in is damaged but luckily the products seem to be okay.

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Haley Faye

Jannie, my local target said “limited availability” and I called ahead to see if they had any! They did and held it for me and I ran over and picked it up. They also told me they expect to have some restocks for the holidays? May be worth calling from time to time!

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Jennifer

Thanks for the tip!! Called target to put it on hold and just picked it up!!!

Pamela

I ordered mine this morning and I already got an email saying it was shipped. 👏

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Lt

I bought the one with the wet bag on Dermstore this morning. The order went through but confirmation said out of stock. I did a live chat and the rep said it’ll be back in stock 12/27.

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Becka B.

FYI! You can sign up for an email to let you know when it’s back in stock.

But, you still might not get there in time. I highly recommend checking it every so often and stalk it if you really want one.

I got lucky enouh to catch a re-stock this morning in the AM. Early morning seems to be when they put it back up.

Good luck everyone!

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Jenny

My target store has showed in stock since Monday. I checked again today and it’s not in the floor. They say they have it but won’t sell it to me. I do t get it

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Haley Faye

Call call call! I called my store before I left to search for it and had them 1) find it for me and 2) hold it for me! Made it way easier than hunting the aisles!

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Jenny

I did call they said it was somewhere in the back! Didn’t know where exactly but would be out on the floor in the next week. So disappointed that they don’t do a better job with their inventory.

DG

Same here. I ordered 2 the other day for pickup from my local store. The next day I had an email telling me I had to change my delivery method. But it can’t be shipped and says it’s out of stock in every store within 100 miles. Yet every time I check it says in stock at that same store. But if I do a new search it’s not. I’m definitely not going to waste a trip only to find out it’s not there. I’m not hopeful Target will restock but I hope Dermstore will. I check a few times a day. I feel like a stalker! 😄

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ColleenT.

Why are my comments suddenly being moderated? I”ve been a member for a long time. Did someone hack into my account or something?

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Lynne

Darn!!!! Out of stock!!!!

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Sally

Lynne, did you try the Dermstore? I purchased one about 30 minutes ago.

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Lynne

Yep!!!! Out of stock there and Target.

Christyle

I bought this @ $20 from Dermstore, and now that I see they are $25 w/ the wet bag I may go back and buy 2 more, I got the wet bag in beautyfix a couple mos. ago and I love it

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Dani

Where is everyone seeing this same box with a wet bag? I’m so confused! 😄

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Pamela

Lol, well I have no clue if it’s still available, and now it’s hard to find, but I think if you search on the Dermstore site for “holiday best of” it shows up somewhere on that page.
Oddly I got an email from Target saying it was available again, but then within 12 minutes, it said unavailable 🤷

LR

Maybe because I use stronger, clinical acids on my face, but I didn’t really notice any difference using the Sunday Riley Lactic Acid treatment.

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Rebecca

Maybe ask what acids you use. I noticed a slight difference in my complexion using SR but it’s effectiveness seems to be very limited.

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